USM set for major stadium expansion

[Cheesesteak]

USM set for major stadium expansion

Sunday March 4, 2007 - Sports Illustrated

HATTIESBURG, Miss.(AP) -- The University of Southern Mississippi will begin work in April on an expansion of M.M. Roberts Stadium that will add 3,700 seats, including 34 suites and 320 club level seats.

Construction is scheduled to be completed Aug. 1, 2008, Southern Miss Athletic Director Richard Giannini said Friday.

The total cost of the project will be $31.8 million. The construction will bring the stadium capacity to 37,000. The expansion includes 1,900 bleacher seats along with concessions and restrooms.

A concourse will be added connecting the east and west sides of the stadium. A new scoreboard with video replay system also is in the works for the north side.

"It's all about progress," Giannini said in a www.hattiesburgamerican.com article.

Six contractors have submitted bids and the decision to select the contractor who will do the work will be made in the next couple of days, Giannini said. He said the official bid will go to the state College Board next week.

"I think it puts a big smile on everybody's face," assistant head football coach Randy Butler said. "It's a positive. We've used it in recruiting, but now you can actually look out there and see construction. It's another positive for Southern Miss, our athletic department and our football program."

Giannini said the facility will be paid for with $21 million in bonds and a $9 million loan. He said revenue from the suites -- which are all sold -- will pay off the debt.

"The timetable is very aggressive," Giannini said. "I've been told that it's going to be tough to make that date, but that's what is in the contract, so that's what we are shooting for."

Southern Miss averaged 28,994 fans a game in 2006 -- attendance that ranked No. 78 in the nation and No. 5 in Conference USA, Giannini said.

"In this day and age, premium seating is what's driving all these stadiums," Giannini said. "I think you can look at any stadium in the country, when they added premium seats, it increased everything across the board."

[RGV Pony]

While we're on the topic, I began looking into planning a trip to Hattiesburg next fall. It's 70 miles from Hattiesburg to Gulfport. Gulfport Airport has service from American, Continental, and Delta. While I originally planned to make it a New Orleans weekend and drive up, the Beau Rivage and Grand Casino in Biloxi are beckoning.

Oh, and USM has us listed as their homecoming.

[smupony94]

Just wait until we beat then one homecoming